Switzerland make the final four in Cagliari

– Switzerland seal final four place
– Spain defeat Italy in Mediterranean derby
– Four teams to fight for final places at European Games

The four semi-finalists of the 2022 Euro beach Soccer League Superifnal in Cagliari have been decided. This is how the knockout matches look:

Spain v Switzerland
Italy v Portugal

For the teams knocked out of the running for the European title, there are still two places at the 2023 European Games up for grabs, and Azerbaijan, France, Ukraine and Poland will fight for them over the next two matchdays.

Watch all of the games at the EBSL Superfinal in Cagliari on Recast.

Switzerland sweep aside Poland to reach semis

With the final place in the 2022 Euro Beach Soccer League semi-finals up for grabs, this was a must win game for both sides, but Switzerland had the brighter start.

Keeper Eliott fired in a screamer from his own half, then Spacca turned in a second at the far post. Then a block/clearance from Ott travelled the length of the pitch to make it three before the break.

Bicycle kick master Glenn Hodel fired in his first of the match and a second Spacca strike pushed the lead to 5-0 heading into the final period.

Jesionowski for Poland and Stankovic for Switzerland, each netted a brace in the final period, keeping the five-goal difference intact until the final whistle, as Switzerland reach the semi-finals of the EBSL, as well as qualifying for the 2023 European Games in Poland. The hosts enjoy automatic qualification.

Spain edge Italy to top Group B

Italy, in front of their home fans, and Spain, motivated by their recent ANOC World Beach Games European Qualifier triumph, faced each other in the match that closed the group stage of the Euro Beach Soccer League 2022 in Cagliari.

La Roja captain Dona opened his account with a shot from the midfield with only a minute played. Arias was sent off for a foul on Fazzini who was through on goal, and the young number seven buried the free-kick confidently to equalise.

Both teams went into the second period level, and the first period repeated itself with Spain scoring first through Domi and Italy equalising through Miceli. But this time on the restart of the match, Chiky Ardil scored for La Roja making it 3-2 on the scoreboard.

The second period would end like it started, with both teams level, as Zurlo showed up at the far post to score Italy’s third.

Midway through the final 12 minutes, Josep Jr. was sent off for a second yellow and David put away the free-kick to punish the Azzurri further. His goal would seal the result, with Spain winning 4-3 and taking the first place of the group.

They will take on Switzerland in Saturday’s semi-final, while Italy will face Portugal.

Ukraine edge Germany to keep European Games hopes alive

With qualification to the 2023 European Games in Poland still possible through the fifth/eighth place play-offs, Ukraine and Germany faced each other for the third and fourth place in the group to guarantee a place in the play-off.

The first period saw only one goal, scored by Oleg Zborovskyi after ten minutes played giving the Ukrainians, who sit five places about Die Mannschaft in the official World Ranking, an early advantage.

The men in yellow extended their lead through Dmytro Medvid, but an own goal by Andrii Borsuk renewed Germany’s hopes in the second period.

Voitenko made it 3-1 with two minutes left, firing in a long-range free-kick, and there was time for captain Nowak to put away a penalty but Germany fell just short, losing the match 3-2. Ukraine will now battle in the playoffs for a place at the European Games.

Late rally sees France take first win of EBSL season

Estonia and France were out of the running for the European title in the 2022 EBSL edition, but a first win of the season was up for grabs on Friday.

Lepik poked home a well-worked goal in the first period, but before the break an unfortunate own goal had the scores level again

France took the lead in the second part through Bru and captain Basquaise, but Stüf kept the score tight at 3-2.